Tank water ends up with leaves and bark in it. The colour/tannins transfer. This amount of colour is minor, it says nothing about the quality of the water.
In city areas it generally is pretty clear. In regional areas that rely on tank water it does get a tea like colouration because leaves can get in tanks. It’s leaf tea.
Fill your tub up about the same with cold only and see if it's that pale yellow, then drain it
Then fill it up with hot only and see if it's pale yellow
If it's only pale yellow when hot then you may have a few months to a few short years until your hot water system bursts
Cold water comes straight from the mains. If you fill the tub with cold only and it looks clear, that means the supply itself is fine.
Hot water has been sitting inside the tank. If you fill the tub with hot only and it comes out pale yellow / tea-coloured, that colour is almost always dissolved iron (rust) from the inside of the tank.
my hot bath water has had rust in it for years… I just assumed it was the pipes/tap hardware had no clue it could be the hot water system itself… is that shit gonna explode?? Should I put the batteries back in the Mildred valve??
Unlikely to explode -- it'll probably just start leaking. How bad that ends up being will depend on how fast it's leaking, the location of the HWS, how soon you notice, etc.
We need more context. Also, unless you’re a very good photographer, it’s almost impossible to show us the actual colour of the water as the ambient light, the camera settings and the basin?tub?bath? that it’s in will all impact the colour cast of the image.
Thanks everyone, looks like there is a wide range of normal. I grew up with clear tank water that didn’t have any odour so this was a surprise. Her mum did warn us not to drink it before she left which we found odd!
The tanks are pretty old now (15 or so years). Large underground ones that have never been cleaned out - even after a bush fire went through last year. Perhaps they are due for a clean.
I'd get a jug with a filter and put it through that which should help with the colour. Rain water is incredibly soft so it's very strange it's upsetting your excema. Perhaps the washing powder or something? When I go to my mum's place I cant use her sheets or towels because I end up with excema.
It’s definitely the water. I grew up with tank water but never had this problem. Our water was always clear though. It stings like dirty lake/river water
That yellowish tint can be pretty common with rainwater tanks, especially if there’s tannins from leaves or organic buildup in the tank. It’s usually not dangerous, but it’s also not ideal if it hasn’t been filtered properly. I’d suggest checking when the tank was last cleaned and whether there’s a basic sediment or carbon filter installed. If it smells off or stains fixtures, I wouldn’t drink it without proper treatment.
Normally the tank needs cleaning.. The yellowish color may be from sediments.. But it is still safe to drink.. If it taste fishy or oily be wary as some organic matter had it contaminated, now thats a concern..
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Tank water ends up with leaves and bark in it. The colour/tannins transfer. This amount of colour is minor, it says nothing about the quality of the water.
it's tea!
For tank water yes. It's from the tannins in leaves.
This is normal and fine.
looks fine!
If you don't wanna drink it, don't, but like - a lot of us regional kiddies grew up on tank and we're all healthy and strong!
it's not dirt-dirt at least!
I grew up on tank water as well but it never looked like this. This water actually upsets my eczema. It’s going to be a fun 5 nights with no washing!
Agh, bum.
Could do a "camp wash" with kettle water? Or go into town (if feasible!) and grab a cask?
(I know the pain, any minor change and my eczema decides it's now Time for Bullshit).
(Could also be the tank - concrete? Tin? Rusty?)
Just pay the local gym or pool fee and use their shower...
What do you mean, coloured? Looks like water to me. Tank water is often not crystal-clear, no.
In city areas it generally is pretty clear. In regional areas that rely on tank water it does get a tea like colouration because leaves can get in tanks. It’s leaf tea.
Looks fine to me!
Yours sincerely, somebody who grew up on tank water (and who is currently doing so).
.
P.S.: if the water starts to smell of kero, it means the water is about to run out. And also that your in-laws are very old fashioned 😉.
At least they won’t have mosquitoes
Tannin from leaves. Its just "tea".
Fill your tub up about the same with cold only and see if it's that pale yellow, then drain it
Then fill it up with hot only and see if it's pale yellow
If it's only pale yellow when hot then you may have a few months to a few short years until your hot water system bursts
Can confirm, but in my case it was a few days!
Its the same colour for both hot and cold water
Ah, then it is just the tank water. As another user pointed out, organic material like leaves, bark, pollen.
What why explain this more pls
Cold water comes straight from the mains. If you fill the tub with cold only and it looks clear, that means the supply itself is fine.
Hot water has been sitting inside the tank. If you fill the tub with hot only and it comes out pale yellow / tea-coloured, that colour is almost always dissolved iron (rust) from the inside of the tank.
If they’re on tank water, they probably don’t have mains, and filling a tub twice is a waste of water??
my hot bath water has had rust in it for years… I just assumed it was the pipes/tap hardware had no clue it could be the hot water system itself… is that shit gonna explode?? Should I put the batteries back in the Mildred valve??
Unlikely to explode -- it'll probably just start leaking. How bad that ends up being will depend on how fast it's leaking, the location of the HWS, how soon you notice, etc.
Tank water is the best!. As others have said it's normal. It should have gone through a filter somewhere between the tank and the tap, so good to use.
There's 5 houses here, all on tank water. Mine is the only one that has a filter between the tank and the house*.
.
\ Technically it went through the filter between the low level catchment/bulk storage tanks, and the high level pressure tank. Close enough.)
My house had no filters when I moved in. Over the years I have slowly progressed to having 4 filters, and nice clear water.
Yeah it’s normal. Rain water out of the tank is fine / safe and almost tasteless despite the tinge.
It has a taste and a smell
‘Almost’ would be hugely subjective 😂Welcome to nature.
We need more context. Also, unless you’re a very good photographer, it’s almost impossible to show us the actual colour of the water as the ambient light, the camera settings and the basin?tub?bath? that it’s in will all impact the colour cast of the image.
Literally every other person who commented on here managed without added context and with the photo as is.
Chuck a bath bomb in it and you won't notice.
Yummi yellow water 🤤
Thanks everyone, looks like there is a wide range of normal. I grew up with clear tank water that didn’t have any odour so this was a surprise. Her mum did warn us not to drink it before she left which we found odd!
The tanks are pretty old now (15 or so years). Large underground ones that have never been cleaned out - even after a bush fire went through last year. Perhaps they are due for a clean.
I'd get a jug with a filter and put it through that which should help with the colour. Rain water is incredibly soft so it's very strange it's upsetting your excema. Perhaps the washing powder or something? When I go to my mum's place I cant use her sheets or towels because I end up with excema.
It’s definitely the water. I grew up with tank water but never had this problem. Our water was always clear though. It stings like dirty lake/river water
Sundsnlike the tanks need a clean. We once had a dead possum in ours but the water smelled weird too.
Under that light?
That yellowish tint can be pretty common with rainwater tanks, especially if there’s tannins from leaves or organic buildup in the tank. It’s usually not dangerous, but it’s also not ideal if it hasn’t been filtered properly. I’d suggest checking when the tank was last cleaned and whether there’s a basic sediment or carbon filter installed. If it smells off or stains fixtures, I wouldn’t drink it without proper treatment.
Normally the tank needs cleaning.. The yellowish color may be from sediments.. But it is still safe to drink.. If it taste fishy or oily be wary as some organic matter had it contaminated, now thats a concern..
If it's clear and yella, you got juice there fella.
Sure if it comes from the French reign of champagne otherwise its just sparkling water
It’s normal. Just a few leaves in there, nothing to be worried about
doesnt look quite right and it looks like watered down piss
You water down your piss?
I do.
Dehydration is not fun, your kidneys will thank you for watering down your piss.
That's tank water!